Guy line apparatus



May 11, 1965 c. R. PIEPER GUY LINE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1963 INVENTOR CHESTER R, P/EPER BYCoMaMi'PwM Q' ATTORNEYS May 11, 1965 c. R. PIEPER 3,182,371

GUY LINE APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 33 3! FIG]. Q

I l 20 1e so 3 4.2w 41 a INVENTOR CHESTER R. PIEPER BY W M ATTORNEYS line.

United States Patent 3,182,371 GUY LINE APPARATUS Chester R. Pieper, 7% Lilac Drive, Santa Barbara, Calif. Filed July 31, 1963, Ser. No. 298,973 15 Claims. c1. 24-135 This invention relates generally to improvements in a guy line apparatus, and more particularly to improvement in a guy line extending between and interconnecting a pole and a ground anchor and to an improved clamping device adapted for use in such guy line.

In the heretofore conventional guy line, the anchor rod was provided with a drop forged eye and a single relatively large guy wire was looped through the anchor rod eye and bent back on itself so that it could be secured by either one or two three-bolt clamps. This guy wire was highly tempered and so stiff, it was very difficult to handle.

In practice, it took five men to make the installation. Obviously this type of guy line was a big expense entailing a large labor cost. In addition, the usual threebolt clamps were always of questionable reliability. In some instances, the wire end looped through the rod eye was unraveled and then tightly wound about the wire. This type of construction was used in lieu of the threebolt clamps. But this procedure was time-consuming and hence expensive.

It is an important objective to provide a guy line that overcomes the above described disadvantages and difficulties. The entire guy line apparatus comes packaged as a complete unit including everything from the attachment means for the pole to the attachment means for the anchor.

An important object is afforded by a guy line that is comprised of means for fixing one end of the guy line to a pole, means for anchoring the other end of the guy line to the ground anchor, 21 pair of wires extending between the pole and anchor and clamping devices fixing the wires to each means at the ends of the guy line.

Another important object is achieved by the structural arrangement of the clamping device utilized in the guy The clamping device is constructed of a body fixed to a rod extending therethrough, the body having at least one substantially encircling groove that receives a guy wire looped substantially a 360 degree turn about the body, and a pair of plates axially movable on the rod and disposed on opposite sides of the body, the plates selectively clamping the wire in the groove by adjustment of lock means on the rod.

Still another important object is. realized by the provision of a pair of substantially encircling grooves in ,the body on opposite sides of the rod. The grooves being disposed substantially parallel and in planes generally extending in the direction of the guy line, each groove receiving a guy wire looped about the body.

,Other advantages are realized in that a pair of wires are used in the guy line, each of which is attached at 1 These wires run double for the entire length of the guy line between the end clamping devices, except for the selective insertion of an insulating portion in those situations where such means is desired.

An important objective is provided in that the present double 'wire construction enables the installation of a guard of very simple, inexpensive design. The guard Lhasa pair of grooves extending lengthwise along opposite sides which receive the double guy wires. For

maximum effect, the. guard is located closely adjacent F the lowermost clamping device attached to the earth anchor rod.

3,132,3ll Patented May 11, 1965 "ice Another important objective is achieved by the provision of an angular offset in the groove at one side of the body under the associated plate, the angular groove portion extending inwardly and between the rod and one adjacent body end portion of the groove in order to provide a more effective grip and clamp of the wire located in such groove.

Yet another important objective is obtained by threadedly connecting the clamp body to the rod so as to have a feature of adjustability, and by threadedly connecting the end fastening means, such as nuts, to the rods so that they cooperate with the associated clamp plates slidably mounted on the rods in order to move the plates selectively toward the body to clamp the wires in the grooves.

An important objective is to provide a clamping device and a complete guy line apparatus that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, highly efficient in operation, and which can be readily installed by anyone with little or no instruction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the guy line apparatus interconnecting a pole with w an earth anchor rod;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a clamping device and its interconnected guy wires;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the clamping device as seen from the right of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional View of the guard as seen along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional View of a modified guard construction;

line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view of the other clamping plate as seen along line Iii-4i of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational View of the clamping device as seen from the right of FIG. 6.

Referring now, by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, it will be apparent that the guy line apparatus operatively interconnects and extends between a vertical or upstanding pole 10 and the ground 11. The means for attaching the guy line to the pole It includes a threaded rod 12 extending through a bore formed transversely in the pole ltl. The rod 12 includes an angularly related rod portion 13 extending downwardly generally in the direction of the guy line toward the ground 11. A plate 14 is disposed about the rod 12 and abuts one face of the pole it while a nut 15 is threadedly attached to the end of rod 12 and engages the opposite face of the pole 10. Thus it is seen that the rod 12 is securely fixed to the pole it The guy line is effectively held in the ground 11 by an earth anchor (not shown) which may be of the usual construction. Such earth anchor is buried in the ground 11 and includes an anchor rod 16 extending upwardly through and above the ground 11. As seen in FIG. 1, .the anchor rod 16 is threaded and assumes an inclined position extending generally in the direction of the guy line toward the cooperation post rod portion 13.

body 20.

A pair of clamping devices 17 and 13 are used to fix the intervening guy wires'to the pole and anchor by rods 12 and 16 respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the clamping devices 17 and 13 are of identical construction except that the lowermost clamping device 18 -is clampingdevice 18 will sufiice for the uppermost clamping device 17.

From FIG; 6, it is seen thatthe clamping device 18 includes a body 20 having rounded ends 21 and fiat sides 22. The upper Side 23 and the lower side 24 are substantially flat as is seen best in FIG. 6. A threaded "bore 25 is formed centrally through the body 20, the bore25 opening through opposed upper and lower Sides 23 and 24.

Extending through the threaded bore 25 of clamp body 20 is the anchor rod 16. The anchor rod 16 projects beyond the opposite sides of the body 18.

Slida-bly mounted on rod 16 below the clamp body 26 is a first clamp plate 26, the plate 26 being axially movable along the rod 16 toward or away from the body 20.

Similarly, a second clamp plate 27 is slidable on the rod 16 above the clamp body 20, such plate 27 being axially movable toward or away from the body 20 also. The plates 26. andi27 are shown to be circular, but it will be circular, but it will be understood that they may be rectangular having a length substantially equal to the distance between body sides 22.

The clamp 20 is provided with a pair of substantially encircling grooves 30 and 31 (FIG. 8) on opposite sides of the rod 16. The grooves 39 and 31 being in spaced,

substantially parallel planes extending generally .in the direction of the guy line. Each of the grooves 30 and 31 extends down one body end 21 and across the lower side 24, up the opposite body end 21 and across the top side-'23. Those portions of the grooves 36 and 31 extending across the top and lower body sides 23 and 24 are overlapped directly by the associated and adjacent clamp plates 27 and 26.

As is best seen in FIG. 7, that portion of each groove 30 and'31 directly underlying the clamp plate 27 is provided with an angularly related groove part 32 and 33 respectively. The angularly related groove parts 32 and 33 extend inwardly of the body between thebody 16 and one adjacentgroove portion formedin the ends 21 of the.

It will be noted that the angularly related portions 32 and 33 are reversed so that they are diagonally opposed. One angularly related groove part 32 extending toward one body end 21 while the other angularly related groove part 33 extendstoward'the opposite body end 21.

' The upper surface of the first clamp plate 26 is provided with a pair of transverse grooves 34 and 35 disposed on opposite sides of the rod 16 and aligned directly below those portions of the grooves 30 and 31 respectively formed in the lower side 24 of body 20.

' The upper clamp plate 27 is provided with a pair of transverse grooves 36 and 37 in its lower face, such grooves 36 and 37 being aligned directly with those portions of the grooves 30 and 31 respectively formed in the upper side 23 of body 20. It will be noted that the plate grooves 36 and 37 are bent to have their configuration conform with the angular arrangement of the, grooves 30 and 31 formed in the upper bodyside 23.

Threadedly mounted on therod 16 are a pair of nuts 40. and 41 constituting a fastening means. One of the nuts 40 engages the bottom face of clamping plate 26:

while the other nut ,41 engages the upper face ofclampingplate 27. Upon threaded adjustment of the nuts 40 and 41 axially along the rod v16, the clamping plates 26 and 27 can be respectively and selectively urged toward the body 20 for clamping action. or both the nuts 40 and 41 can be backed off to allow the clamping plates 26 and 27 to move away from the body 20.

Of course, either one The guy line includes a pair of guy wires 42 and 43 extending between and operatively interconnecting the clamping devicesl'i and 18," the wires. 42 and 43 being disposed in substantially parallel, spaced relation. The wires 42 and 43 are attached to the clamping devices 17 and 18 in the same manner so that a detailed description of the attachment to the lower clamping device 18 will suffice for the other.

For example, the end 44' of the wire 42 is looped about the body 18 and disposed in the groove 36. The corresponding end 45 of the cooperating wire 43 is looped about the body 18 in the opposite direction .and disposed in groove 31'. The wires 42 and 43are pulled tight by a suitable tool known as a come-along. First, the clamping, plate 26 is urged towardthe body 26 by nut 44 so that the loops of the wire ends 44 and 45 are received respectively in the plate grooves 34 and 3S and the wires are clamped securely between the body 20 and plate 26.

Then, the wire ends are folded down and across the body 26 so that the wire end 44 is disposed in the I angular groove portion 33, while the wire end 45 is disposed in the angular groove .portion 32, as is indicated by broken lines and by arrows in FIG. 6. Then, the'plate 27 is moved down toward the body12tiby threaded adjustment of nut 41, the wire ends 44 and 45 being received respectively in plate grooves 37 and 36. The wires 42 and 43 are now securely. clamped in place; p

In some installations, it is desired tohavean insulating section disposed in theguy line. This structural arrangement is suggested in FIG. 1. The wires "42 and 43 are operatively connected to a pair of insulting members 46 and 47. A loop of wire 48 operatively. interconnects the insulating members 46 and 47... It willbe importantly noted that the wires in the loop 48 are straightand parallel, as are the guy wires 42 and 43.

Disposed between the guy wires 42 and ably located-closely adjacent the lowermost clamping device 18Iis an elongate guard 56 that holds the wires in spaced parallel relation, and holds the wires and hence the guy line rigid.

The structuralarrangementof the guard 50 shown in FIG. 1 isperhaps best illustrated by the'cross-sectional view of FIG. 4. The guard 50 'ofFIG. 4 is constructed of an elongate wood strip of substantially-rectangular cross section having opposed side marginsiSl and 52.

' Extending for the entire length of the elongated guard 50 in each of the side'margins 51 and 52 is a groove 53 and 54 respectively, adapted to seat and hold the guy wires 42 and 43.

A modified construction of the guard is shown by the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5.' In this instance, the guard is constructed of anelongated metal tube 55 of substantially circular cross section inwhich there is provided'a pair of opposed depressions. or grooves 56 and 57 extending the'entire length of such tube. The grooves 56 and 57 receive the guy wires 42 and 43. The guards of FIGS. 4 and 5 are equivalentstructures providing exactly the same result. Bothstructures are economical and highly efiicient.

In order to hold the guard 50 or 55 in place, it will be understood that the distance between the guy wires 42 and 43 is slightly lessthan the distance between the seat for such wires in the coacting guard grooves 53 and 54. With this structural arrangement, the guy'wires 42 and v 43 exert an inward'pressure on the guard 50- when disposed in the wire grooves 53 and 54,-thereby holding the 43 and prefer-' posed upwardly at the appropriate angle above the ground 11. The clamping devices 17 and 18 are then secured to the rods 13 and 16 respectively. Then, the pole rod 12 is fixed to the pole by the nut and plate 14, and the rod portion 13 is disposed at the appropriate angle.

Because, as is stated previously, the clamping devices 17 and 18 are of identical construction but only of diiferent size, a description of fixing the lowermost clamping device 18 will sufiice for the uppermost clamping device 17.

For example, the nut tlv is threaded to rod 16, the clamping plate 26 is placed over the rod, the body 20 is threadedly attached to rod 16, the clamping plate 27 is placed over rod 16 and the nut 41 is threadedly attached, in that sequence. The nuts 40 and 41 are threadedly adjusted to enable the plates 26 and 27 to move away from the body 20 a sufiicient distance to enable the insertion and placement of the guy wires 42 and 43.

First, the ends of the guy wires are looped under and about the body 20 and disposed in the grooves 30 and 31 and pulled taut by suitable tools. The loop bights of the wires 42 and 43 are first clamped into position while the wires 42 and 43 are held tight, by threadedly adjusting the nut 40 to move the plate 26 toward the body 20', the wire bights being received in the plate grooves 34 and 35. The loop bights of the wire ends 44 and 45 are thereby clamped securely in place between the clamp plate 26 and the clamp body 20.

Then, the wire ends 44 and 45 are folded across the clamp body 20 in opposite directions so that they are disposed respectively in the angularly related groove portions 33 and 32. The clamp plate 27 is moved down over the folded Wire ends 44 and 45 so that they are received in the angular plate grooves 37 and 36 respectively, and the nut 41 is adjusted tight against the plate v27. The wire ends 44 and 4-5 are thereby clamped securely between the clamp plate 27 and the clamp body 2GL' Any excess length of either wire end 44 and 45 is then cut olf.

The'guard 50 is placed in position by insertion between the wires 42 and 43 immediately adjacent the lowermost clamping device '18, the wires 42 and 43 being located in the guard grooves 53 and 54. The guy line is now held rigid.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictivesense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A clamping device for a guy line comprising:

(a) a clamping body,

(b) a rod fixed to and extending through the body,

the body being provided with at least one substantially encircling groove disposed in a plane extending generally in the direction of the guy line, the groove receiving a Wire end looped about the body,

(c) a pair of plates mounted on the rod and located on opposite sides of the body in overlapping relation to the groove, the plates being axially movable on the rod toward or away from the body and groove, and

(d) means adjustably mounted on the rod and selectively moving the plates toward the body to clamp the wire in the groove.

2. A clamping device as defined above in claim 1, in

which:

(e) each plate is provided with a groove alignable with the groove in the body adapted to receive the wire end located between the body and plate.

3. A clamping device as defined above in claim 1, in

which:

(5) the groove having a portion underlying one of said plates that is angularly related to extend inwardly of the body, to impart a bend in the wire located in the groove portion and clamped between the body and plate.

4. A clamping device for a guy line comprising:

(a) a clamping body,

(b) a rod fixed and extending through the body,

(0) a pair of plates mounted on the rod on opposite sides of the body,

(d) the body being provided with a pair of substantially encircling grooves on opposite sides of the rod and disposed in planes extending generally in the direction of the guy line, each groove passing under the plates and receiving a wire end looped about the body,

(e) each plate being axially movable on the rod toward or away from the body and grooves, and

(f) means adjustably mounted on the rod and selectively moving the plates toward the body to clamp the Wires in the grooves.

5. A clamping device for a guy line comprising:

(a) a clamping body,

(b) a rod threadedly attached to the body and extend ing through the body,

(c) a pair of plates slidably mounted on the rod and disposed on opposite sides of the body,

(d) the body being provided with at least one substantially encircling groove disposed in a plane extending generally in the direction of the guy line with a portion of the groove located under each plate, the groove receiving a wire end looped about the body, and

(e) fastening means threadedly attached to the rod and adjustably positioned on the rod and engaging the plates for selectively moving the plates toward the body to clamp the wire in the groove.

6. A clamping device for a guy line as'defined above in claim 5 in which:

(j) that portion of the groove that receives the bight of the wire loop underlying one plate is substantially straight in the plane,

(g) the one plate overlapping that portion of the groove being provided with a substantially straight groove aligned with the substantially straight groove portion in the body to receive the bight of the wire loop, and

(k) that portion of the groove that underlies the other plate is angular and extends inwardly of the body and inwardly of the wire loop to receive the end of the wire loop,

(i) the said other plate being provided with an angular groove aligned with the said angular groove portion in the body to receive the wire end therebetween.

7. A clamping device for a guy line comprising:

(a) a body,

(11) a rod attached to and extending through the body,

(0) the body being provided with a pair of substantially encircling grooves arranged in spaced relation on opposite sides of the rod and in planes extending generally in the direction of the guy line, each groove receiving a wire looped substantially a 360 degree turn about the body,

(d) a first plate mounted on the rod at one side of the body overlying the grooves,

(e) a second plate movably mounted on the rod at the opposite side of the body and overlying the grooves, and

(f) means adjustably mounted on the rod and selec tively moving the plates toward the body to clamp the wires in the grooves.

8. A clamping device as defined above in clamp 7 in which:

(g) the body is threadedly connected to the rod for axial adjustment to different positions on the rod,

(h) the plates being slidably movable axially along the rod, and

(i) the fastening means being threadedly connected to the rod for axial adjustment along the rod to move the plates selectively toward or away from the body incidentvto clamping or unclamping the wires in the grooves between the body and the plates.

9. A clamping device for a guy line as defined above in claim 7 in which:

(g) that portion of each groove underlying one of the plates being provided with a bend extending inwardly and between the rod and an adjacent side body portion of the groove so as to provide a bend in the Wire received in the angular groove portion.

10. A clamping device for a guy line as defined above in claim 9 in which:

(h) each plate is provided with a pair of grooves alignable with the underlying portions of the grooves in the grooves.

11. A clamping device for a guy line comprising:

(a) a body,

(b) a rod threadedly attached to the body and extending through the body on opposite sides,

() a pair of plates slidably mounted on the rod at opposite sides of the body,

(d) the body being provided with a pair of .substan tially encircling grooves arranged in spaced relation on opposite sides of the rod and in planes extending generally in the direction of the guy line, each groove including portions underlying each of the plates,

(2) each groove receiving a wire looped about the body so that the bight ofthe loop is received in one groove portionunderlying'one plate while the end of the wire is disposed in the other groove portion underlying the other plate, the said other groove portion receiving the wire and being provided with a bend extending inwardly andbetween the rod and an adjacent side body portion of the groove to provide a bend in the wire in said other portion, and

1(1) fastening means threadedly connected to the rod and engaging each plate, the fastening means being adjustable to move the plates selectively toward the body to clamp the wires in the grooves.

12. In a guy line;

(a) means fixing one end of the guy line to a pole,

(b) means anchoring the other end of the guy line to the ground,

(0) a pair of wires extending between the pole and ground, and,

(d) clamping devices fixing the wires to each means at the ends of the guy line, one of the clamping devices comprising I the body adapted to receive the wires disposed in r 8 (e) a clamping body,

: (f) a rod fixed to andextending through the body,

'(g) a pair of plates slidably'movable on the rod on opposite sidesof the body, (h) the,body being provided with a pair of substantially' encircling grooves onopposite sides of the rod, the grooves beingin planes: extending generally in the direction of the guy line, (1'), each groove receiving one ,of the wires looped about thebody, q (j) each groove having a portion located under each of the plates at opposite sides of the body, and (k) means adjustably mounted on the rod and selectively moving the plates; toward the body to'clamp the wires in the grooves. 13. In a guy line as'defined above in claim 12, in which: (l) one ,of' the wires is looped about the body and locatedin one, groove so that the wire end between one plate and the body extends in one direction while the other wire is looped about the body and located in, the other groove so that ,thewire end extends between the same said one plate and body extends in the opposite direction.

' '14. In a guy line as defined above claim 13, in'which:

(m) the clamping device at the other endaof the guy line is of the, same construction as recited previously with respectto the first said clamping'device.

15. In a guy line as defined above in claim 14, in which:

(n) an elongate guard is disposed between the pair of wires, adjacent one of the clamping devices, the guard including a pair of grooves extending lengthwise along opposite sides'and receiving the pairof wires.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Owen 24'125 1,257,135 2/18 De Right et a1. 24'l1-5.2 1,630,356 5/27 Perks 1893l.5 2,223,389 12/40 Schaedler 189'-31.5 2,698,471 1/55 Peirce ettal "24-125 3,055,398 9/62 Tunnessen 2 4---81.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 801,953 5/36 France, 348,812 2/31 Great Britain.

74,706 2/49 Norway.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CLAMPING DEVICE FOR A GUY LINE COMPRISING: (A) A CLAMPING BODY, (B) A ROD FIXED TO AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE BODY, THE BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY ENCIRCLING GROOVE DISPOSED IN A PLANE EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GUY LINE, THE GROOVE RECEIVING A WIRE END LOOPED ABOUT THE BODY, (C) A PAIR OF PLATES MOUNTED ON THE ROD AND LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BODY IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO THE GROOVE, THE PLATES BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE ON THE ROD TOWARD OR AWAY FROM THE BODY AND GROOVE, AND (D) MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON THE ROD AND SELECTIVELY MOVING THE PLATES TOWARD THE BODY TO CLAMP THE WIRE IN THE GROOVE. 